Judo means literally the "gentle way" and Kodokan means literally
"a school of studying the way," "the way" being the concept
of life itself. Judo is an art that is practiced as a sport. Its aims are
threefold and are practiced in the following order:

Physical development (renshindo) Proficiency in contest (shoubuho) Mental development (shushinho)

In feudal Japan, the only weapons were hands (jiujutsu), knives, clubs,
staves, swords, spears, and bows and arrows. Use of these was taught and
practiced with scientific and often deadly skill. Teachers held official
positions and were highly regarded. Their teachings were promulgated in
the many schools that developed.

Toward the end of the Tokugawa era (1576-1875) a great change occurred in the
types of weapons and methods of fighting. The old martial arts fell into
rapid disuse and interest diminished accordingly. The jiujutsu masters lost their official positions and were forced to seek employment
elsewhere. Many turned to wrestling and to exhibitions at fairs. One
man, Jigoro Kano, a student of many of the old masters, realized that the arts
were disappearing. He set out to revive, organize and systematize a course
of instruction in them. In June, 1882, he established the Kodokan in
Tokyo. Today's sport of judo is that system as developed by Kano in the
intervening years.

(The Sport of Judo, 1997,Kobyashi and Sharp)

Purpose

To stimulate interest in the art of Kodokan Judo among the general public as a
sport and cultural pursuit; promote physical fitness and mental alertness;
foster and maintain a sense of friendship and competition among its members and
provide guidelines along which practice and competition can be conducted with
safety and in accordance with rules for Kodokan Judo as in the USJA handbook.